France's tense election campaign reached its final pause on Saturday (July 6),&nbsp;before Sunday's second round runoff amid expectations of potential stalemate and stagnation for this major European power.

Final opinion polls released on Friday indicated that Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) is unlikely to secure an outright majority in the National Assembly.

But&nbsp;President Emmanuel Macron's strategic gamble to prompt a clear choice between his centrist policies and the polarising extremes of the left and right seems to have faltered.

<h2>France runoff elections: What does it mean?</h2>

With no clear ruling majority in sight, Macron faces the prospect of navigating the remaining three years of his presidency under uncertain political conditions.

Polls by Ipsos and Ifop suggest that the anti-immigrant, eurosceptic RN might win between 170 and 210 seats in the National Assembly, falling short of the 289 seats required for an absolute majority.

The Ipsos Talan poll for Le Monde, Radio France, and France Televisions forecasts the RN narrowly leading the left-wing New Popular Front, which is projected to secure between 145 and 175 seats. In contrast, Macron's centrist allies, who held 250 seats in the outgoing parliament, are predicted to win only 118 to 148 seats.

"Either the RN wins an absolute majority and I can, from Sunday, embark on my project to rebuild...or the country is blocked,"&nbsp;Le Pen said.&nbsp;

On the other hand, Prime Minister Gabriel&nbsp;Attal has pledged to continue in his role "as long as necessary".

Macron, whose term lasts until April 2027, now faces the possibility of cohabitating with political adversaries.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-snap-elections-macron-vows-to-stay-in-charge-until-2027-as-far-right-eyes-rout-734465">France snap elections: Macron vows to stay in charge 'until 2027' as far right eyes rout</a>

The prospect of France potentially forming its first far-right government since World War II has alarmed European allies.

Even if the RN falls short, as current polling suggests, France will navigate uncharted political territory as Paris prepares to host the Olympic Games.

Also watch |&nbsp;France elections: Fear of far-right in French neighbourhood | Discord in Macron camp as well

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Meanwhile, in response to the far-right surge seen in the first round of voting on June 30, centrist and left-wing parties have formed second-round coalitions to curb Le Pen's momentum. Le Pen has criticised these alliances as attempts to undermine the people's will by creating a "single party" to protect the political elite.

However, it remains uncertain how many voters, whose preferred candidates withdrew to support others against the RN, will participate in Sunday's runoff.

France's tense election campaign reached its final pause on Saturday (July 6), before Sunday's second round runoff amid expectations of potential stalemate and stagnation for this major European power.

France's tense election campaign reached its final pause on Saturday (July 6), before Sunday's second round runoff amid expectations of potential stalemate and stagnation for this major European power. Final opinion polls released on Friday indicated that Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) is unlikely to secure an outright majority in the National Assembly. But President Emmanuel Macron's strategic gamble to prompt a clear choice between his centrist policies and the polarising extremes of the left and right seems to have faltered. France runoff elections: What does it mean? With no clear ruling majority in sight, Macron faces the prospect of navigating the remaining three years of his presidency under uncertain political conditions. Polls by Ipsos and Ifop suggest that the anti-immigrant, eurosceptic RN might win between 170 and 210 seats in the National Assembly, falling short of the 289 seats required for an absolute majority. The Ipsos Talan poll for Le Monde, Radio France, and France Televisions forecasts the RN narrowly leading the left-wing New Popular Front, which is projected to secure between 145 and 175 seats. In contrast, Macron's centrist allies, who held 250 seats in the outgoing parliament, are predicted to win only 118 to 148 seats. "Either the RN wins an absolute majority and I can, from Sunday, embark on my project to rebuild...or the country is blocked," Le Pen said. On the other hand, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has pledged to continue in his role "as long as necessary". Macron, whose term lasts until April 2027, now faces the possibility of cohabitating with political adversaries. Also read | France snap elections: Macron vows to stay in charge 'until 2027' as far right eyes rout The prospect of France potentially forming its first far-right government since World War II has alarmed European allies. Even if the RN falls short, as current polling suggests, France will navigate uncharted political territory as Paris prepares to host the Olympic Games. Also watch | France elections: Fear of far-right in French neighbourhood | Discord in Macron camp as well × Meanwhile, in response to the far-right surge seen in the first round of voting on June 30, centrist and left-wing parties have formed second-round coalitions to curb Le Pen's momentum. Le Pen has criticised these alliances as attempts to undermine the people's will by creating a "single party" to protect the political elite. However, it remains uncertain how many voters, whose preferred candidates withdrew to support others against the RN, will participate in Sunday's runoff.

France snap elections: Exit Polls show Le Pen's party falling short of outright majority

The recent murder of a 12-year girl has left France shocked. The gruesome murder has now given rise to criticism of the nation's immigration policies.

The child who has only been identified as 'Lola' was found raped and murdered, her brutalised body stuffed in a trunk. A 24-year-old woman with psychiatric issues who was later identified as an illegal immigrant was charged with the crime.&nbsp;On Tuesday French President Macron met with the victim's family and "offered his condolences".

AFP reports that some politicians in the opposition have already started using the murder to attack Macron's government and its immigration policies.

Reportedly, the suspect, an Algerian, was in France on a student visa, which had expired. She had been ordered to leave the country for overstaying the visa.&nbsp;

Speaking during a regular government questions session in the French Parliament, far-right leader Marine Le Pen said "too many crimes are being committed by clandestine immigrants one has not been able or willing to deport." &nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shocking-12-year-old-girl-found-in-box-in-paris-woman-charged-with-rape-and-murder-526321">Shocking! 12-year-old girl found in box in Paris, woman charged with rape and murder</a>

"You owe it to us to come up with urgent answers and uncompromising solutions to make sure the law is applied and respected in our country," Le Pen said to Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who as per Reuters had admonished the far-right leader asking her to "show some decency."

Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti too expressed his disappointment with Le Pen over her statement in the Parliament calling it "petty politics".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/man-found-guilty-of-killing-california-student-kristin-smart-in-1996-526614" hreflang="en">Man found guilty of killing California student Kristin Smart in 1996</a>

"I'll speak as I find. Doing petty politics, using the coffin of a 12-year-old girl as a stepping stone, is shameful," he said adding that be it may that the suspect was ordered to leave France, it is not known whether her lawyer had appealed the order. He further said that in case an appeal had been filed, the suspect would've been in her right to stay in the country.&nbsp;

Addressing the chamber he accused Le Pen of taking advantage of circumstances. He said that "you're always there when tragedy strikes, you've been making hay out of it for years."

(With inputs from agencies)

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The recent murder of a 12-year girl has left France shocked. The gruesome murder has now given rise to criticism of the nation's immigration policies. The child who has only been identified as 'Lola' was found raped and murdered, her brutalised body stuffed in a trunk.

The recent murder of a 12-year girl has left France shocked. The gruesome murder has now given rise to criticism of the nation's immigration policies. The child who has only been identified as 'Lola' was found raped and murdered, her brutalised body stuffed in a trunk. A 24-year-old woman with psychiatric issues who was later identified as an illegal immigrant was charged with the crime. On Tuesday French President Macron met with the victim's family and "offered his condolences". AFP reports that some politicians in the opposition have already started using the murder to attack Macron's government and its immigration policies. Reportedly, the suspect, an Algerian, was in France on a student visa, which had expired. She had been ordered to leave the country for overstaying the visa. Speaking during a regular government questions session in the French Parliament, far-right leader Marine Le Pen said "too many crimes are being committed by clandestine immigrants one has not been able or willing to deport." Also read | Shocking! 12-year-old girl found in box in Paris, woman charged with rape and murder "You owe it to us to come up with urgent answers and uncompromising solutions to make sure the law is applied and respected in our country," Le Pen said to Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who as per Reuters had admonished the far-right leader asking her to "show some decency." Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti too expressed his disappointment with Le Pen over her statement in the Parliament calling it "petty politics". Also read | Man found guilty of killing California student Kristin Smart in 1996 "I'll speak as I find. Doing petty politics, using the coffin of a 12-year-old girl as a stepping stone, is shameful," he said adding that be it may that the suspect was ordered to leave France, it is not known whether her lawyer had appealed the order. He further said that in case an appeal had been filed, the suspect would've been in her right to stay in the country. Addressing the chamber he accused Le Pen of taking advantage of circumstances. He said that "you're always there when tragedy strikes, you've been making hay out of it for years." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Have some decency': French oppn questions Macron's immigration policies over murder of 12-year-old Lola

French President Emmanuel&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;formally begins his&nbsp;second&nbsp;term&nbsp;in office on Saturday, maintaining suspense about his new government ahead of parliamentary elections next month that will shape his next five years in power.&nbsp;

The 44-year-old scored a solid victory in April 24 presidential polls against far-right leader Marine Le Pen, but still needs a majority in parliament to be able to push through his domestic reform agenda. &nbsp;

The identity of&nbsp;Macron's new government is expected to set the tone for campaigning, with the president suggesting he intends to name only the&nbsp;second&nbsp;woman prime minister in modern French history.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/emmanuel-macrons-party-changes-name-to-renaissance-ahead-of-parliamentary-elections-476791">Emmanuel Macron’s party changes name to ‘Renaissance’ ahead of parliamentary elections</a>

Speculation has been rife in the French media, with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and current Labour Minister Elisabeth Borne seen as possible candidates, but&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;has taken his time to name a replacement for outgoing Premier Jean Castex.

"It's been decided, but no one knows who it is," a presidential advisor told AFP on condition of anonymity.

An announcement is expected early next week.&nbsp;

Macron's Republic on the Move party has been renamed Renaissance ahead of the parliamentary polls on June 12 and 19, with several centrist and centre-right parties set to compete under the collective pro-Macron&nbsp;banner of "Together".

France's splintered left-wing parties have also agreed a tie-up under the leadership of former Trotskyist Jean-Luc Melenchon who has set his sights on a parliamentary majority to thwart&nbsp;Macron's plans.

"To go from around 60 MPs (in the current parliament) to a majority is highly improbable, but the dynamic created by the new union could mean they make major progress," Frederic Dabi, head of the Ifop polling group, told AFP this week.

Le Pen's National Rally and France's ailing mainstream right-wing party, the Republicans, are also hoping to bounce back from their disappointment in the presidential election by securing significant representation in the 577-seat parliament.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Macron warns against humiliating Putin

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Combination of&nbsp;challenges

Macron&nbsp;won re-election with promises to continue his broadly pro-business and pro-EU policies of his first&nbsp;term, with more tax cuts, welfare reform and pledged a new emphasis on environmental protection for the next five years.

The biggest change is expected to be in his style of governing.

The former investment banker repeatedly promised "a new method" that will be less top-down a move designed to tackle his reputation for elitism and high-handedness.

"For it to work, there needs to be results that are concrete and visible to people," Bernard Sananes, the head of polling group Elabe, told AFP. "If it's just about showing you're listening to people, that's great but it won't be enough."

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-modi-to-hold-closed-door-talks-on-russia-ukraine-war-reports-476410">&nbsp;Macron, Modi to hold closed-door talks on Russia-Ukraine war: Reports</a>

Others wonder whether the more consultative style is in keeping with the temperament of a president who is known to centralise decision-making and once theorised that French people wanted a king-like figure at the centre of national life.&nbsp;

His short-term&nbsp;domestic priority is expected to be tackling a cost-of-living crisis that dominated the presidential campaign due to sharp rises in energy prices and other goods linked to product shortages and the war in Ukraine.

In foreign policy, where&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;will have a free hand as president irrespective of the parliamentary result, he has promised to work to deepen the 27-member European Union while managing the fallout from the Ukraine conflict.

Macron&nbsp;has positioned himself as a key link to the Kremlin through his regular talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while also authorising weapons deliveries to Ukraine and offering the partly occupied country his full support.

"Rarely has our world and our country been confronted with such a combination of&nbsp;challenges,"&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;said as he was inaugurated for his&nbsp;second&nbsp;term&nbsp;on May 7.&nbsp;

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French President Emmanuel Macron formally begins his second term in office on Saturday, maintaining suspense about his new government ahead of parliamentary elections next month that will shape his next five years in power.

French President Emmanuel Macron formally begins his second term in office on Saturday, maintaining suspense about his new government ahead of parliamentary elections next month that will shape his next five years in power. The 44-year-old scored a solid victory in April 24 presidential polls against far-right leader Marine Le Pen, but still needs a majority in parliament to be able to push through his domestic reform agenda. The identity of Macron's new government is expected to set the tone for campaigning, with the president suggesting he intends to name only the second woman prime minister in modern French history. Also read | Emmanuel Macron’s party changes name to ‘Renaissance’ ahead of parliamentary elections Speculation has been rife in the French media, with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and current Labour Minister Elisabeth Borne seen as possible candidates, but Macron has taken his time to name a replacement for outgoing Premier Jean Castex. "It's been decided, but no one knows who it is," a presidential advisor told AFP on condition of anonymity. An announcement is expected early next week. Macron's Republic on the Move party has been renamed Renaissance ahead of the parliamentary polls on June 12 and 19, with several centrist and centre-right parties set to compete under the collective pro-Macron banner of "Together". France's splintered left-wing parties have also agreed a tie-up under the leadership of former Trotskyist Jean-Luc Melenchon who has set his sights on a parliamentary majority to thwart Macron's plans. "To go from around 60 MPs (in the current parliament) to a majority is highly improbable, but the dynamic created by the new union could mean they make major progress," Frederic Dabi, head of the Ifop polling group, told AFP this week. Le Pen's National Rally and France's ailing mainstream right-wing party, the Republicans, are also hoping to bounce back from their disappointment in the presidential election by securing significant representation in the 577-seat parliament. Watch | Gravitas: Macron warns against humiliating Putin Combination of challenges Macron won re-election with promises to continue his broadly pro-business and pro-EU policies of his first term, with more tax cuts, welfare reform and pledged a new emphasis on environmental protection for the next five years. The biggest change is expected to be in his style of governing. The former investment banker repeatedly promised "a new method" that will be less top-down a move designed to tackle his reputation for elitism and high-handedness. "For it to work, there needs to be results that are concrete and visible to people," Bernard Sananes, the head of polling group Elabe, told AFP. "If it's just about showing you're listening to people, that's great but it won't be enough." Also read | Macron, Modi to hold closed-door talks on Russia-Ukraine war: Reports Others wonder whether the more consultative style is in keeping with the temperament of a president who is known to centralise decision-making and once theorised that French people wanted a king-like figure at the centre of national life. His short-term domestic priority is expected to be tackling a cost-of-living crisis that dominated the presidential campaign due to sharp rises in energy prices and other goods linked to product shortages and the war in Ukraine. In foreign policy, where Macron will have a free hand as president irrespective of the parliamentary result, he has promised to work to deepen the 27-member European Union while managing the fallout from the Ukraine conflict. Macron has positioned himself as a key link to the Kremlin through his regular talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while also authorising weapons deliveries to Ukraine and offering the partly occupied country his full support. "Rarely has our world and our country been confronted with such a combination of challenges," Macron said as he was inaugurated for his second term on May 7. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

French President Emmanuel Macron starts second term with challenges mounting

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday (April 30) praised his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron for his victory in the election in Paris.

He told Hurriyet daily that "To put it correctly, the elimination and defeat of extremist ends in French elections is, in my opinion, a win because whatever we suffer is because of extremism."&nbsp;

According to Erdogan, far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen's defeat in the French election was a ''win''.

"God willing, with the result of this election, our relations will be in a much better position," he added.

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Macron had defeated Le Pen and achieved a historic score of 41.5 percent in the second round of the French presidential election.

Erdogan is in Saudi Arabia on a two-day visit, Erdogan met Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"I believe my visit will herald a new era in the ties between our two countries. We have demonstrated our common will to enhance ties," he said.

"We agreed with Saudi Arabia to reactivate a great economic potential through organisations that will bring our investors together."&nbsp;

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/french-presidential-debate-turning-points-in-political-history-471617">French presidential debate: Turning points in political history</a>

"We announced that we, as Turkey, would support them in their bid to host EXPO 2030 in Riyadh," he added.

Erdogan and Macron have been at loggerheads with head other after the former criticised the French president's crackdown on Islamist extremism and called him "trouble for France."

Macron had slammed Erdogan due to Turkey's aggressive stance and tensions in the eastern Mediterranean and the contested &nbsp;Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Watch WION's live TV:

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(With inputs from agencies)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday (April 30) praised his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron for his victory in the election in Paris. He told Hurriyet daily that "To put it correctly, the elimination and defeat of extremist ends in French elections is, in my opinion, a win because whatever we suffer is because of extremism.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday (April 30) praised his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron for his victory in the election in Paris. He told Hurriyet daily that "To put it correctly, the elimination and defeat of extremist ends in French elections is, in my opinion, a win because whatever we suffer is because of extremism." According to Erdogan, far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen's defeat in the French election was a ''win''. "God willing, with the result of this election, our relations will be in a much better position," he added. Macron had defeated Le Pen and achieved a historic score of 41.5 percent in the second round of the French presidential election. Erdogan is in Saudi Arabia on a two-day visit, Erdogan met Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. "I believe my visit will herald a new era in the ties between our two countries. We have demonstrated our common will to enhance ties," he said. "We agreed with Saudi Arabia to reactivate a great economic potential through organisations that will bring our investors together." Also see | French presidential debate: Turning points in political history "We announced that we, as Turkey, would support them in their bid to host EXPO 2030 in Riyadh," he added. Erdogan and Macron have been at loggerheads with head other after the former criticised the French president's crackdown on Islamist extremism and called him "trouble for France." Macron had slammed Erdogan due to Turkey's aggressive stance and tensions in the eastern Mediterranean and the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region. Watch WION's live TV: (With inputs from agencies)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls Le Pen's defeat in the French election a 'win'

There is no doubt that President Emmanuel Macron of France won a convincing reelection over Marine Le Pen, his far-right challenger, on Sunday. Macron scored a thumping 17 point margin of victory, becoming the first French leader to be reelected to a second term in 20 years.

In the view of many, the electoral system worked as it was intended to, with nearly 60% of those who voted joining together to defend against a xenophobic and nationalist far-right widely regarded as a threat to French democracy.

That is, perhaps, unless you are a supporter of Le Pen, who was blocked in the final round for a second consecutive time.

“I think we’re heading into five more years of crisis, probably worse, because people are just fed up,” Sébastien Denneulin, 46, a Le Pen supporter, said Monday morning in Roye, a northern far-right stronghold.

Even as Le Pen has edged her party into the mainstream, ensconcing it firmly in the political establishment, her supporters say they are growing frustrated with a lack of representation in the political system.

The far right enjoyed its strongest ever showing at the ballot box on Sunday, as Le Pen widened her appeal with pocketbook issues important in parts of the country like this northern region, where in the past two generations voters have shifted to the far right from the political left along with deindustrialization.

The challenge for Macron will be how to lure back into the political fold the 41.5% of voters who cast ballots for Le Pen — and the roughly 28% who opted not to vote at all. Despite the president’s clear victory, the election results disguised myriad challenges that could make his next five years in office even more tumultuous than the last.

As French news media organizations drew up maps of the nationwide breakdown of the runoff vote, they showed a widening and deepening fracture along the French equivalent of American blue and red states.

In the reddest areas of France, there was frustration that Le Pen had been defeated once again and a strong sentiment that her supporters were continuing to be shut out of the political system.

In Roye, some people gathered at the QG brasserie voiced anger when they learned of the results on their smartphones on Sunday evening. One man set fire to his voter’s card.

Tony Rochon, 39, a roofer, said he had voted for a Le Pen — either Marine or her father, Jean-Marie — all of his life. But each time, he said, other political parties had united to deny a Le Pen victory in the presidential race. Then the same thing had happened in legislative elections — also a two-round system — effectively marginalizing Le Pen’s influence in Parliament.

In 2017, for instance, while Le Pen garnered 34% of the vote in the presidential election, her party secured only eight seats in Parliament — not even enough to form a parliamentary group.

That year, Macron promised to introduce proportional representation in Parliament, which experts say would better reflect the population’s political beliefs. But he failed to fulfill his pledge.

“That’s why the only option for us is to take to the streets,” said Rochon, who joined the Yellow Vest anti-government protests in Paris. “Macron has no legitimacy.”

He and his wife, Adelaide Rochon, 33, a dental assistant who has also always voted for Le Pen’s party, said they believed that the vote had been rigged.

“We don’t know a single person around us who voted for Macron,” Adelaide Rochon said. “It’s impossible that he won.”

Not impossible, actually.

In Roye, a town of 6,000 people, two out of three voters backed Le Pen in the runoff. But nationwide Macron drew many votes — 47%, according to one poll — not necessarily because people endorsed him, but because they joined the so-called Republican front against the far right, whose politics remain anathema to a majority of French despite Le Pen’s persistent efforts to remake and soften her image.

For others, like Madeleine Rosier, a member of the leftist France Unbowed, a choice between Macron and what she deemed an unacceptable far-right candidate was no choice at all. She did not cast a ballot on Sunday after voting for Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the veteran leftist who came in third place in the first round.

“I didn’t want to grant Emmanuel Macron legitimacy,” she said.

The abstention rate — the highest in a runoff since 1969 — reflected the widespread disillusionment with the political system that sent protesters from towns like Roye to the Champs-Élysées in Paris as part of the anti-government Yellow Vest movement in 2018, the biggest political crisis of Macron’s first term.

That anger persists in many pockets of the country. In another measure of political disillusionment, more than 3 million people cast blank or null-and-void ballots — and that does not include the 13.7 million who opted not to vote at all.

Étienne Ollion, a sociologist and professor at the Polytechnique engineering school, said the importance of such voters and those who reluctantly backed Macron to keep Le Pen from power, as well as the level of abstention give Macron “a relatively limited legitimacy.”

The election results underscored a growing sense of “democratic fatigue and democratic fracture” in France, Ollion said.

Given Macron’s unfulfilled pledge to reform Parliament, Chloé Morin, a political scientist at the Jean-Jaurès Foundation, a Paris-based think tank, said there were doubts about Macron’s “capacity to take into account this extremely divided political landscape and opposition parties that will inevitably, in all logic, be little represented” in Parliament.

Daniel Cohn-Bendit, an ally of Macron and a former Green member of the European Parliament, said in an interview that “an unfair French electoral system” had led to governing that ignores the political opposition and various actors of society.

“To have a Parliament where someone who gets 42% of the votes only has about 20 lawmakers, that’s unacceptable,” he said, referring to Le Pen.

Shortly after Macron was reelected on Sunday, there were immediate signs that discontent surrounding French democracy would mark his second term.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Paris and other big cities to oppose Macron’s second term. The protests were marred by violent clashes with police, who fired tear gas in Paris to disperse the crowd.

Protesters in Paris converged from the city center to the large Place de la République, chanting a song originating from the Yellow Vest movement, “We are here, even if Macron doesn’t want it, we are here!”

By midnight, the police had cleared the Place de la République of protesters. But they had scrawled, in red, a warning on the large statue of Marianne, an emblem of the French Republic, in the middle of the square: “Beware of revenge when all the poor people stand up.”

There is no doubt that President Emmanuel Macron of France won a convincing reelection over Marine Le Pen, his far-right challenger, on Sunday. Macron scored a thumping 17 point margin of victory, becoming the first French leader to be reelected to a second term in 20 years.

There is no doubt that President Emmanuel Macron of France won a convincing reelection over Marine Le Pen, his far-right challenger, on Sunday. Macron scored a thumping 17 point margin of victory, becoming the first French leader to be reelected to a second term in 20 years. In the view of many, the electoral system worked as it was intended to, with nearly 60% of those who voted joining together to defend against a xenophobic and nationalist far-right widely regarded as a threat to French democracy. That is, perhaps, unless you are a supporter of Le Pen, who was blocked in the final round for a second consecutive time. “I think we’re heading into five more years of crisis, probably worse, because people are just fed up,” Sébastien Denneulin, 46, a Le Pen supporter, said Monday morning in Roye, a northern far-right stronghold. Even as Le Pen has edged her party into the mainstream, ensconcing it firmly in the political establishment, her supporters say they are growing frustrated with a lack of representation in the political system. The far right enjoyed its strongest ever showing at the ballot box on Sunday, as Le Pen widened her appeal with pocketbook issues important in parts of the country like this northern region, where in the past two generations voters have shifted to the far right from the political left along with deindustrialization. The challenge for Macron will be how to lure back into the political fold the 41.5% of voters who cast ballots for Le Pen — and the roughly 28% who opted not to vote at all. Despite the president’s clear victory, the election results disguised myriad challenges that could make his next five years in office even more tumultuous than the last. As French news media organizations drew up maps of the nationwide breakdown of the runoff vote, they showed a widening and deepening fracture along the French equivalent of American blue and red states. In the reddest areas of France, there was frustration that Le Pen had been defeated once again and a strong sentiment that her supporters were continuing to be shut out of the political system. In Roye, some people gathered at the QG brasserie voiced anger when they learned of the results on their smartphones on Sunday evening. One man set fire to his voter’s card. Tony Rochon, 39, a roofer, said he had voted for a Le Pen — either Marine or her father, Jean-Marie — all of his life. But each time, he said, other political parties had united to deny a Le Pen victory in the presidential race. Then the same thing had happened in legislative elections — also a two-round system — effectively marginalizing Le Pen’s influence in Parliament. In 2017, for instance, while Le Pen garnered 34% of the vote in the presidential election, her party secured only eight seats in Parliament — not even enough to form a parliamentary group. That year, Macron promised to introduce proportional representation in Parliament, which experts say would better reflect the population’s political beliefs. But he failed to fulfill his pledge. “That’s why the only option for us is to take to the streets,” said Rochon, who joined the Yellow Vest anti-government protests in Paris. “Macron has no legitimacy.” He and his wife, Adelaide Rochon, 33, a dental assistant who has also always voted for Le Pen’s party, said they believed that the vote had been rigged. “We don’t know a single person around us who voted for Macron,” Adelaide Rochon said. “It’s impossible that he won.” Not impossible, actually. In Roye, a town of 6,000 people, two out of three voters backed Le Pen in the runoff. But nationwide Macron drew many votes — 47%, according to one poll — not necessarily because people endorsed him, but because they joined the so-called Republican front against the far right, whose politics remain anathema to a majority of French despite Le Pen’s persistent efforts to remake and soften her image. For others, like Madeleine Rosier, a member of the leftist France Unbowed, a choice between Macron and what she deemed an unacceptable far-right candidate was no choice at all. She did not cast a ballot on Sunday after voting for Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the veteran leftist who came in third place in the first round. “I didn’t want to grant Emmanuel Macron legitimacy,” she said. The abstention rate — the highest in a runoff since 1969 — reflected the widespread disillusionment with the political system that sent protesters from towns like Roye to the Champs-Élysées in Paris as part of the anti-government Yellow Vest movement in 2018, the biggest political crisis of Macron’s first term. That anger persists in many pockets of the country. In another measure of political disillusionment, more than 3 million people cast blank or null-and-void ballots — and that does not include the 13.7 million who opted not to vote at all. Étienne Ollion, a sociologist and professor at the Polytechnique engineering school, said the importance of such voters and those who reluctantly backed Macron to keep Le Pen from power, as well as the level of abstention give Macron “a relatively limited legitimacy.” The election results underscored a growing sense of “democratic fatigue and democratic fracture” in France, Ollion said. Given Macron’s unfulfilled pledge to reform Parliament, Chloé Morin, a political scientist at the Jean-Jaurès Foundation, a Paris-based think tank, said there were doubts about Macron’s “capacity to take into account this extremely divided political landscape and opposition parties that will inevitably, in all logic, be little represented” in Parliament. Daniel Cohn-Bendit, an ally of Macron and a former Green member of the European Parliament, said in an interview that “an unfair French electoral system” had led to governing that ignores the political opposition and various actors of society. “To have a Parliament where someone who gets 42% of the votes only has about 20 lawmakers, that’s unacceptable,” he said, referring to Le Pen. Shortly after Macron was reelected on Sunday, there were immediate signs that discontent surrounding French democracy would mark his second term. Hundreds of protesters gathered in Paris and other big cities to oppose Macron’s second term. The protests were marred by violent clashes with police, who fired tear gas in Paris to disperse the crowd. Protesters in Paris converged from the city center to the large Place de la République, chanting a song originating from the Yellow Vest movement, “We are here, even if Macron doesn’t want it, we are here!” By midnight, the police had cleared the Place de la République of protesters. But they had scrawled, in red, a warning on the large statue of Marianne, an emblem of the French Republic, in the middle of the square: “Beware of revenge when all the poor people stand up.”

Convincing victory disguises steep challenges for Macron

French election 2022: Even with a 'changed' image, Marine Le Pen loses her final presidential race

France has elected a new leader and once again it is centrist Emmanuel Macron, he is the first French president to serve a second term in 20 years. The 44-year-old who came to power as France's youngest-ever president has comfortably defeated far-right rival Marine Le Pen.

French Elections: A second term in office for centrist Emmanuel Macron

After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1980s. In general, low turnout is attributed to multiple reasons but ultimately affecting the results. Let's have a look at what happened in France on election day.

What factors lead to a low voter turnout in France?

French Elections: Emmanuel Macron becomes first French Prez to win second term in 2 decades

Does Marine Le Pen stand a chance in French Presidential Elections? In 2017, far-right politician Le Pen lost the race to Emmanuel Macron by a margin of 10 million votes. In 2022 Presidential Elections, the chances of her victory seem more probable

French Presidential Elections: Can Marine Le Pen win the Presidential race?

To get your day started, here are some stories:

Today, France faces the final showdown in its Presidential elections, voting is slated to begin on the French mainland in a few hours. In other news,&nbsp;President Vladimir Putin’s rumoured girlfriend Alina Kabaeva made her first public appearance since the Ukrainian invasion. Meanwhile&nbsp;on the occasion of World Book Day, Chinese President Xi pushed people to read more books.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/french-presidential-run-off-election-what-you-should-know-473329#macron-vs-le-pen-473326">French presidential run-off election: What you should know</a>

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After a turbulent campaign that saw the French far-right come close to winning power, France will vote in presidential elections on Sunday, with a stark choice between centrist President Emmanuel Macron and far-right opponent Marine Le Pen. Catch all the updates here.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin's rumoured girlfriend Alina Kabaeva was seen in public for the first time since the Ukrainian invasion at Moscow's VTB Arena, reports claimed.

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Chinese President Xi urged people to read more on the occasion of World Book Day as his book recommendations began trending on Chinese social media.

The Chinese president also asked Communist Party leaders to "take the lead in reading" and encouraged children to develop reading habits.

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Even after a year of infection and subsequent hospitalisation, not even one in four people can report a full recovery. This indicates that the virus is here to stay and it is on its way to becoming a common condition.

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&nbsp;

To get your day started, here are some stories: Today, France faces the final showdown in its Presidential elections, voting is slated to begin on the French mainland in a few hours.

To get your day started, here are some stories: Today, France faces the final showdown in its Presidential elections, voting is slated to begin on the French mainland in a few hours. In other news, President Vladimir Putin’s rumoured girlfriend Alina Kabaeva made her first public appearance since the Ukrainian invasion. Meanwhile on the occasion of World Book Day, Chinese President Xi pushed people to read more books. French presidential run-off election: What you should know After a turbulent campaign that saw the French far-right come close to winning power, France will vote in presidential elections on Sunday, with a stark choice between centrist President Emmanuel Macron and far-right opponent Marine Le Pen. Catch all the updates here. Putin's rumored girlfriend appears in public for first time since Ukraine invasion Russian President Vladimir Putin's rumoured girlfriend Alina Kabaeva was seen in public for the first time since the Ukrainian invasion at Moscow's VTB Arena, reports claimed. President Xi's booklist: Tagore, Shakespeare & Russian writers Chinese President Xi urged people to read more on the occasion of World Book Day as his book recommendations began trending on Chinese social media. The Chinese president also asked Communist Party leaders to "take the lead in reading" and encouraged children to develop reading habits. Covid is here to stay and it affects women worse than men, says study Even after a year of infection and subsequent hospitalisation, not even one in four people can report a full recovery. This indicates that the virus is here to stay and it is on its way to becoming a common condition. Watch | Israel-Palestine clashes: Israel says two rockets fired from Gaza, UN expresses concern

Morning news brief: French presidential elections updates, Putin’s rumoured girlfriend appearance, and more

When President Emmanuel Macron came to power, he had economic reforms on his mind, little did he know that he would face a number of protests during his tenure. Five years ago, Macron became the youngest French leader since Napoleon

French Presidential Elections: Will Macron get a second term?

Now it is D-day in France as ballets will open in a couple of hours from now and people will soon decide who will be the next French President. The choices between two leaders with starkly different ideologies, incumbent president and centrist leader, Emmanuel Macron and on the other hand, far-right leader, Marine Le Pen

French Presidential Elections: Final round of voting France

On Sunday France will vote for the leader that'll take its helm for the next five years. As we all know, the top two candidates are still the far-right Marine Le Pen and the centrist incumbent President Emmanuel Macron.

If opinion polls are to be believed Macron continues to hold a solid 10 point lead over his top contender, a lead that is far lacking as compared to the 2017 elections that saw the same two candidates competing, with the incumbent carrying the day with 66 per cent to 34 per cent.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-presidential-elections-2022-runoff-voting-how-does-the-polling-system-work-472305" hreflang="en">French presidential elections 2022 |&nbsp;Runoff voting: How does the polling system work?</a>

Voting has already started, for three million voters in French overseas territories and for the citizens in mainland France it will begin at 0600 GMT, closing 12 hours later.

It is a highly anticipated election, that will go on to showcase if Marine Le Pen has been successful in softening her image. As per an AFP report, while Macron still remains a favourite, if Le Pen were to secure a win, shockwaves will be felt across Europe. Left-leaning EU leaders like the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have already pleaded with French citizens to choose Macron over Le Pen.

Watch |&nbsp;French Presidential election 2022: Who will be the next French President?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/french-presidential-election-2022-who-will-be-the-next-french-president-473289/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Right up till the end the contenders continued to take jibes at each other, with Macron reminding people of his competition's racism, a charge she denies and Le Pen taking aim at her rival's plan to push back the retirement age to 65 from 62.

Even as the far-right candidate denies allegations of racism, people remain worried.&nbsp;

Speaking to Reuters, Ghislaine Madalie, a hairdresser in Auxerre, in central France, said she would vote for Emmanuel Macron. She spoke of her many clients' plans to vote for Le Pen because of their dislike of Macron, something she says is nothing short of disastrous.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-presidential-election-macrons-lead-over-le-pen-widens-in-polls-472246" hreflang="en">French presidential election: Macron's lead over Le Pen widens in polls</a>

"I find that disastrous because she is racist," Madalie, 36, whose family has roots in Morocco said of Le Pen. "I am anxious, for me and for my children."

The stakes are massive: if Le Pen is elected, she will be the first far-right leader in contemporary French history, as well as the first female president. Macron could become the first French president in two decades to be re-elected.

(With inputs from agencies)

On Sunday France will vote for the leader that'll take its helm for the next five years. As we all know, the top two candidates are still the far-right Marine Le Pen and the centrist incumbent President Emmanuel Macron.

On Sunday France will vote for the leader that'll take its helm for the next five years. As we all know, the top two candidates are still the far-right Marine Le Pen and the centrist incumbent President Emmanuel Macron. If opinion polls are to be believed Macron continues to hold a solid 10 point lead over his top contender, a lead that is far lacking as compared to the 2017 elections that saw the same two candidates competing, with the incumbent carrying the day with 66 per cent to 34 per cent. Also read | French presidential elections 2022 | Runoff voting: How does the polling system work? Voting has already started, for three million voters in French overseas territories and for the citizens in mainland France it will begin at 0600 GMT, closing 12 hours later. It is a highly anticipated election, that will go on to showcase if Marine Le Pen has been successful in softening her image. As per an AFP report, while Macron still remains a favourite, if Le Pen were to secure a win, shockwaves will be felt across Europe. Left-leaning EU leaders like the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have already pleaded with French citizens to choose Macron over Le Pen. Watch | French Presidential election 2022: Who will be the next French President? Right up till the end the contenders continued to take jibes at each other, with Macron reminding people of his competition's racism, a charge she denies and Le Pen taking aim at her rival's plan to push back the retirement age to 65 from 62. Even as the far-right candidate denies allegations of racism, people remain worried. Speaking to Reuters, Ghislaine Madalie, a hairdresser in Auxerre, in central France, said she would vote for Emmanuel Macron. She spoke of her many clients' plans to vote for Le Pen because of their dislike of Macron, something she says is nothing short of disastrous. Also read | French presidential election: Macron's lead over Le Pen widens in polls "I find that disastrous because she is racist," Madalie, 36, whose family has roots in Morocco said of Le Pen. "I am anxious, for me and for my children." The stakes are massive: if Le Pen is elected, she will be the first far-right leader in contemporary French history, as well as the first female president. Macron could become the first French president in two decades to be re-elected. (With inputs from agencies)

Le Pen vs Macron: France is gearing up for the last fight, with voting taking place today

French presidential run-off election: What you should know

In France, ballets have opened across the nation and people will soon decide who will be the next French President. The choices between two leaders , incumbent president and centrist leader, Emmanuel Macron and on the other hand, far-right leader, Marine Le Pen. To get more perspective, we're joined by Elijah De Zayas, War correspondent from Paris

French Presidential Elections: Final quest for votes after fiery debate

In France, ballets have opened across the nation and people will soon decide who will be the next French President. The choices between two leaders with starkly different ideologies, incumbent president and centrist leader, Emmanuel Macron and on the other hand, far-right leader, Marine Le Pen

French Presidential Elections: Ballots open for voting across France

In France, after an aggressive pre-election debate, rival presidential candidates are making a final push for votes with just two days to go before Sunday's election runoff, the two are back on the campaign trail.

French Elections 2022: Last leg of campaigning concludes

Three days from now, France will decide its new President. For that French President Emmanuel Macron, rival Marine Le Pen faced off in a high-stakes debate. Two leaders clashed bitterly over issues like Russia, the Hijab ban and Europe.

French Presidential debate: Le Pen confirms sticking to banning Hijab in Public

As the polling day inches closer some voters in France find it hard to vote for Emmanuel Macron due to his track record however they do not want far-right leader Le Pen in power as they feel it would put them in danger, watch this report for more.

French Elections: Muslim voters hope to keep Marine Le Pen out of power

Headscarf ban, Russian finance: Macron and Le Pen engage in bitter presidential debate

In France, the race for the presidential election is in its final days of campaigning. Days ahead of the final vote in one of the biggest economies, far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is trying to present a more moderate face to the voters.

French Elections: Marine Le Pen pivoting from her usual topics of Islam? Is there a change in tone?

Incumbent Emmanuel Macron's lead over his far-right opponent Marine Le Pen widened in voting intention polls on Tuesday (April 19).

Three polls in the French presidential election placed him at the highest level since before the first round.

When questioned about Macron's lead, Prime Minister Jean Castex told France Inter radio "The game isn't over yet and we certainly can't draw conclusions ... that this election, this match, is already decided."

"We have to convince the French that Emmanuel Macron's programmes are the best for France and for them," he added.

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Meanwhile, Castex's predecessor as prime minister, Edouard Philippe, said "Right now, either candidate could win."&nbsp;

Macron, who is a liberal party La Republique en Marche (LREM) candidate seeking re-election, has increased his lead in an Ipsos poll by 3.5 points from last Friday.

Similarly, an Ifop and an Opinionway poll showed that 55 per cent of French people will choose him as their future leader once again.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/french-presidential-debate-turning-points-in-political-history-471617">French presidential debate: Turning points in political history</a>

His average of five polls on April 8, two days before the first-round vote in which he qualified for the second round, was only 52.7 per cent.

In response, Le Pen said, "For me, failure is sometimes a kick in the backside."

French political analysts believe that undecided voters and abstentions can still swing the polling figures.

In 2017, Macron had defeated Le Pen by acquiring 66.1 per cent of the votes.&nbsp;

French newspaper Le Monde reported, "she has spent five years trying to bury that disastrous (2017) televised duel, by sprucing up her image, party and ideological tenets."&nbsp;

In their only direct clash ahead of Sunday's second round of voting, Le Pen will go head-to-head against Macron on Wednesday.

(With inputs from agencies)

Incumbent Emmanuel Macron's lead over his far-right opponent Marine Le Pen widened in voting intention polls on Tuesday (April 19). Three polls in the French presidential election placed him at the highest level since before the first round.

Incumbent Emmanuel Macron's lead over his far-right opponent Marine Le Pen widened in voting intention polls on Tuesday (April 19). Three polls in the French presidential election placed him at the highest level since before the first round. When questioned about Macron's lead, Prime Minister Jean Castex told France Inter radio "The game isn't over yet and we certainly can't draw conclusions ... that this election, this match, is already decided." "We have to convince the French that Emmanuel Macron's programmes are the best for France and for them," he added. Meanwhile, Castex's predecessor as prime minister, Edouard Philippe, said "Right now, either candidate could win." Macron, who is a liberal party La Republique en Marche (LREM) candidate seeking re-election, has increased his lead in an Ipsos poll by 3.5 points from last Friday. Similarly, an Ifop and an Opinionway poll showed that 55 per cent of French people will choose him as their future leader once again. Also see | French presidential debate: Turning points in political history His average of five polls on April 8, two days before the first-round vote in which he qualified for the second round, was only 52.7 per cent. In response, Le Pen said, "For me, failure is sometimes a kick in the backside." French political analysts believe that undecided voters and abstentions can still swing the polling figures. In 2017, Macron had defeated Le Pen by acquiring 66.1 per cent of the votes. French newspaper Le Monde reported, "she has spent five years trying to bury that disastrous (2017) televised duel, by sprucing up her image, party and ideological tenets." In their only direct clash ahead of Sunday's second round of voting, Le Pen will go head-to-head against Macron on Wednesday. (With inputs from agencies)

French presidential election: Macron's lead over Le Pen widens in polls

As the campaigning in France enters its final days, far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen seems to be trying to soften her image.

In a recent development, an ally of Le Pen has announced that the planned hijab ban that the presidential candidate had promised as one of the political tools to fight “Islamism” would come “little by little”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/neither-macron-nor-le-pen-france-erupts-in-protests-against-top-presidential-candidates-ahead-of-elections-471600">Neither Macron, nor Le Pen: France erupts in protests against top presidential candidates ahead of elections</a>

This marks a shift in her campaign tone, less than a week before the voting takes place.

Le Pen has previously stated that the hijab is not a symbol of a person's religious beliefs, but rather an "Islamist uniform" that should be prohibited from public spaces in France.

However, the prohibition of the hijab, according to French lawyers, would be a violation of the French constitution.

In a country that has suffered a succession of fatal extremist attacks, issues related to France's Muslim population, which is one of Europe's largest, have become a contentious issue.

Louis Aliot, former partner of Le Pen, and the mayor of Perpignan told France Inter radio that the hijab ban needed to be implemented gradually.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: France Elections: Marine Le Pen accused of embezzlement

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In his opinion, the ban should begin with state-run services and then be gradually expanded.

Echoing Le Pen's words, he said&nbsp;"there will be a debate in parliament and then the choice will be made."

On Monday, another Le Pen supporter, David Rachline, mayor of the Mediterranean town of Frejus, also appeared to modify his stance. "We don't want to attack people," he stated, adding that "all those women wearing a hijab are not Islamists."

Le Pen has tried to soften her image in recent years, however, she has not abandoned her far-right objectives.

"People who are present on our territory, who respect our laws, who respect our values, who have sometimes worked in France, have nothing to fear from the policy I want to pursue," Le Pen said on France Bleue radio.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-elections-le-pen-says-victory-has-never-been-this-near-urges-france-to-defeat-the-elitist-bloc-471096">French elections: Le Pen says 'victory has never been so near', urges France to defeat the 'elitist bloc'</a>

An encounter on Friday left Le Pen looking sheepish. As she faced the cameras, a hijab-clad woman approached her, asking her to "leave the Muslims alone", adding "We are French, we love this country".

The next day, Le Pen admitted that the problem was complicated. However, she said that parliament would have a role in the choice and that any unwanted legislation could be repealed.

(With inputs from agencies)

As the campaigning in France enters its final days, far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen seems to be trying to soften her image. In a recent development, an ally of Le Pen has announced that the planned hijab ban that the presidential candidate had promised as one of the political tools to fight “Islamism” would come “little by little”.

As the campaigning in France enters its final days, far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen seems to be trying to soften her image. In a recent development, an ally of Le Pen has announced that the planned hijab ban that the presidential candidate had promised as one of the political tools to fight “Islamism” would come “little by little”. Also read | Neither Macron, nor Le Pen: France erupts in protests against top presidential candidates ahead of elections This marks a shift in her campaign tone, less than a week before the voting takes place. Le Pen has previously stated that the hijab is not a symbol of a person's religious beliefs, but rather an "Islamist uniform" that should be prohibited from public spaces in France. However, the prohibition of the hijab, according to French lawyers, would be a violation of the French constitution. In a country that has suffered a succession of fatal extremist attacks, issues related to France's Muslim population, which is one of Europe's largest, have become a contentious issue. Louis Aliot, former partner of Le Pen, and the mayor of Perpignan told France Inter radio that the hijab ban needed to be implemented gradually. Watch | Gravitas: France Elections: Marine Le Pen accused of embezzlement In his opinion, the ban should begin with state-run services and then be gradually expanded. Echoing Le Pen's words, he said "there will be a debate in parliament and then the choice will be made." On Monday, another Le Pen supporter, David Rachline, mayor of the Mediterranean town of Frejus, also appeared to modify his stance. "We don't want to attack people," he stated, adding that "all those women wearing a hijab are not Islamists." Le Pen has tried to soften her image in recent years, however, she has not abandoned her far-right objectives. "People who are present on our territory, who respect our laws, who respect our values, who have sometimes worked in France, have nothing to fear from the policy I want to pursue," Le Pen said on France Bleue radio. Also read | French elections: Le Pen says 'victory has never been so near', urges France to defeat the 'elitist bloc' An encounter on Friday left Le Pen looking sheepish. As she faced the cameras, a hijab-clad woman approached her, asking her to "leave the Muslims alone", adding "We are French, we love this country". The next day, Le Pen admitted that the problem was complicated. However, she said that parliament would have a role in the choice and that any unwanted legislation could be repealed. (With inputs from agencies)

France elections 2022: Le Pen, allies try to appease voters by softening stance on hijab ban

After a brief easter pause in campaigning, the two final contenders in the French presidential race will return to the ground today. Ahead of the high-stakes televised debate president Emmanuel Macron and also the far-right challenger Marine Le Pen both have have scheduled low-key meetings for today.

Macron vs Marine Le Pen: Rivals group gear for final campaigning | French Presidential Elections

In less than a week to go for the second phase of the French polls and the race at the Elysee Palace is now heating up with both the candidates centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right Marine Le Pen pulling all stops now to ensure they come on top.

EU anti-fraud body accuses far-right candidate Marine Le Pen of embezzlement

The European Parliament said Sunday it will try to recover money owed by Marine Le Pen over fraud allegations as the far-right leader prepares to face President Emmanuel Macron in France's unpredictably close election run-off.

French news platform Mediapart revealed that a report by the EU's&nbsp;anti-fraud&nbsp;body OLAF accused Le Pen and three other former MEPs -- including her father Jean-Marie -- of misusing European Parliament funds.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/neither-macron-nor-le-pen-france-erupts-in-protests-against-top-presidential-candidates-ahead-of-elections-471600">Neither Macron, nor Le Pen: France erupts in protests against top presidential candidates ahead of elections</a>

The report also alleged that Le Pen personally misappropriated around 137,000 euros ($148,000) of public money from the Strasbourg-based parliament during her time as an MEP between 2004 and 2017.

A source said the European Parliament had referred the case to OLAF after uncovering some of the alleged irregularities.

Watch |&nbsp;Report: Marine Le Pen and others embezzled over $640,000 | French Presidential Elections

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"In total, we're talking about 617,000 euros wrongfully paid. We will now proceed with recovery (of the money) from the interested parties in the coming weeks," the source added.

OLAF's investigation has been open since 2016 and Le Pen was questioned by post in March 2021, her lawyer Rodolphe Bosselut told AFP.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-can-win-this-election-says-frances-le-pen-471338">I can win this election, says France's Le Pen</a>

Le Pen has faced another investigation since 2017 over suspicions of employing fictional party assistants in the European Parliament.

The impending action against the National Rally leader comes as polls give her a strong chance of beating Macron in the second round of France's presidential election on April 24.

The European Parliament said Sunday it will try to recover money owed by Marine Le Pen over fraud allegations as the far-right leader prepares to face President Emmanuel Macron in France's unpredictably close election run-off.

The European Parliament said Sunday it will try to recover money owed by Marine Le Pen over fraud allegations as the far-right leader prepares to face President Emmanuel Macron in France's unpredictably close election run-off. French news platform Mediapart revealed that a report by the EU's anti-fraud body OLAF accused Le Pen and three other former MEPs -- including her father Jean-Marie -- of misusing European Parliament funds. Also read | Neither Macron, nor Le Pen: France erupts in protests against top presidential candidates ahead of elections The report also alleged that Le Pen personally misappropriated around 137,000 euros ($148,000) of public money from the Strasbourg-based parliament during her time as an MEP between 2004 and 2017. A source said the European Parliament had referred the case to OLAF after uncovering some of the alleged irregularities. Watch | Report: Marine Le Pen and others embezzled over $640,000 | French Presidential Elections "In total, we're talking about 617,000 euros wrongfully paid. We will now proceed with recovery (of the money) from the interested parties in the coming weeks," the source added. OLAF's investigation has been open since 2016 and Le Pen was questioned by post in March 2021, her lawyer Rodolphe Bosselut told AFP. Also read | I can win this election, says France's Le Pen Le Pen has faced another investigation since 2017 over suspicions of employing fictional party assistants in the European Parliament. The impending action against the National Rally leader comes as polls give her a strong chance of beating Macron in the second round of France's presidential election on April 24.

European Union to recover funds from French election candidate Marine Le Pen

In less than a week to go for the second phase of the French polls and the race to the Elysee palace is now heating up. With both the candidates centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right Marine Le Pen pulling all the stops to ensure they come out on top. However, the far-right candidate is under the scanner, watch this report for more.

Report: Marine Le Pen and others embezzled over $640,000 | French Presidential Elections

As second round of French elections inches closer, thousands of anti-far right demonstrators marched across the country. As opponents of the presidential candidate Marine Le Pen with the goal of preventing her from winning elections against the incumbent Macron.

French Elections: Anti-far right protests across France, Le Pen calls demonstrations anti-democratic

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With just 9 days to go for the final face-off in France, both Emmanuel macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen have hit the campaign trail hard this time.

French Elections: Macron, Le Pen on fierce campaign trail

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